Range finder to assist mooring astern

[SaltyMetals]

When anchoring and then backing to set 2lines ashore I often find it difficult to judge the distance from the shore line in order to drop my anchor. Usually aiming to drop at a distance of 5x my boat length. I have heard of some people using a golf range finder but does anyone who uses this technique have a particular range finder model they would recommend?
Andrew
"Genial Bee"

[Jamme]

See https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ng-252596.html

Fair winds.

[sv_pelagia]

We have a Wosports golf rangefinder, like this
https://www.amazon.ca/Wosports-Range...Y2hfbXRm&psc=1

Love it.

FYI: The "flagfinder" function turns out to be very useful... helps for getting distance to small items like crab pot buoys, etc (which can be hard to measure using the normal/usual range function.

[ejs]

You can also use the radar on a very close range overlaid on the chart plotter. Set a range ring at the distance you want

[SailingHarmonie]

If you have a broadband radar, it will have such good close-in sensitivity it will trump pretty any other way of doing it. Our radar has a minimum range of 200 feet, and easily measures distances to within better than 10 feet. You can keep an eye on depths on the MFD as you back up as well.

For me, way better situational awareness than squnting through a monocule.

[noelex 77]

Both laser rangefinders and radars are useful distance measuring tools that have many applications on a sailboat. I have both and use them. They are also both useful in med mooring situations.

The big advantage of a laser rangefinder is you know precisely where the measurement point is taken and it will measure smaller targets in rougher sea conditions. It is also turns on instantly and is portable. The main advantage of radar is that you have a continual reading (or least display) of distance and the range is greater.

Neither of the tools are essential, but they are both nice to have.

[meirriba]

Lomvum LV 66U laser meter
660m range.
Much more useful than radar in mooring situations
1. Distance accurate to less than 1m
2. Exact target
3. No need to power on the radar.
4. No need to play with radar controls (clutter, etc.)

We use it in stern mooring, be it to wuay or long shore lines. Also to ascertain distances to neighbours on anchor

[requiem]

Played with both this past weekend. Using the laser rangefinder with a hand compass was straightforward and I was confident of the targets. If you have something you can get a good reflection off the distance can be quite decent; one of my landmarks was measured at 1030 meters.

With the radar it was hard to know which part of the shore features were being measured although the general picture was sufficient. So, in good conditions the rangefinder would be my preference.

Here's the wrinkle: at end of day the fog came in. The rangefinder started having trouble returning distances, and eventually there were no visual landmarks remaining at all. The only remaining options were GPS position and the radar. (I suppose the depth sounder also counts.)